Thursday, August 31, 2006

In a software design meeting, we were using typical technical jargon to discuss a data exchange interface with a vendor. One co-worker said the programming we had ordered was delayed because the vendor was suffering from a "severe nonlinear waterfowl issue." Curious, the team leader raised his eyebrows and asked," What exactly is that?" The programmer replied, "They don't have their ducks in a row."

a duckie joke today!just cause i wanted to!got the panty idea and site from BLUE GAL, THANKS!

TAH DAH!!!!!!

A man is driving a pick-up truck down the road with a bunch of ducks standing in the back. A police officer pulls over the driver and informs him that he is speeding and then asks him where does he think he's going with all those ducks. The driver says that he just doesn't know what to do anymore. The officer says, "Look, there's a zoo not far from there and that's where you should be taking them. That will take care of your problem." The man thanks the officer and drives off with his ducks.The next day the officer again sees the pick-up truck once again speeding down the road. This time, though, all the ducks in the back are standing there with sunglasses. The officer pulls over the driver over and says, "I thought I told you to take them to the zoo!" "I did that," said the driver, "but now they want to go to the beach!"

went to see my new grandkitten last night.she is a sweetie, very snuggly. mika is pissed, boris is confused, but that's his normal state andmy little granddaughter is entranced by the kitten.it was fun to see it all. s

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

JUST LIKE A WOMAN

(Words and Music by Bob Dylan)1966, 1976 Dwarf Music

Nobody feels any painTonight as I stand inside the rainEv'rybody knowsThat Baby's got new clothesBut lately I see her ribbons and her bowsHave fallen from her curls.She takes just like a woman, yes, she doesShe makes love just like a woman, yes, she doesAnd she aches just like a womanBut she breaks just like a little girl.Queen Mary, she's my friendYes, I believe I'll go see her againNobody has to guessThat Baby can't be blessedTill she sees finally that she's like all the restWith her fog, her amphetamine and her pearls.She takes just like a woman, yes, she doesShe makes love just like a woman, yes, she doesAnd she aches just like a womanBut she breaks just like a little girl.It was raining from the firstAnd I was dying there of thirstSo I came in hereAnd your long-time curse hurtsBut what's worseIs this pain in hereI can't stay in hereAin't it clear thatI just can't fitYes, I believe it's time for us to quitWhen we meet againIntroduced as friendsPlease don't let on that you knew me whenI was hungry and it was your world.Ah, you fake just like a woman, yes, you doYou make love just like a woman, yes, you doThen you ache just like a womanBut you break just like a little girl.

the last 3 lines here are just, well, he really nails it, almost spookyhow well and how much he caught a woman's being in so few words.he is a poet first and foremost, to me, a magnificent poet.

60/24/7-30/12minutes hours days months years go byi chew on my thoughts at breakfastand wash them down with coffeeno cream.i clean with mop, pail andpine smells to mask sour regretsset the table the food plentifulthe conversation, spare.check the doors, the lights, the cat

katrina:new orleans 05it was said this morningto tether the deadso bloated corpsescan't float awayhuman balloonsfilled with sorrows.this was written last year and offered to a site that raised donationsfor the victims.one year, god, one year! s

as i promised, i'd share any c&c i received onthis new poem. so far, just one from a PK memberwho wrote, "i loved the gentleness of this poem.i felt like i was being caressed by it!"this made me smile. it's really a good feeling when a workis well received. if i get anything more, good OR badi will post it and then go from there as to any changesin the poem. s

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

i called into a radio show this morning.THAT was a first for me and i was a nervous wreckbut i like tony norman's writing and i check in onTHE 2 POLITICAL JUNKIES blog on and off throughthe day. SO, when i read that they were going to be on1360, i just decided to give it a shot! they were very niceand tony laughs a lot, like i do so i didn't feel too silly.new experiences, why not? ; )

this is a first draft of a new poem.i've sent it to my workgroup to see ifanyone has any comments or crits.i thought i'd post it here and let you seewhat, if any c&c i receive and if i changethis piece drastically or in a small way if at all.

here it is:

2 halves = 1 whole

you were bigyour bignesssurprised me.i saw it on my facemaking an Oin your eyessurprised

then you becameme and ibecame you aswe cametogether.

you were gentleyour gentlenesssoothed me.i saw it in your facemaking you LOOKand my eyesmisted

the other blog that i am a contributing writer forTHE SOUL OF US, is back up and running.it's charlie tee and me for the moment.take a look, add a comment or 2 , to the topic.the latest is a musical one. i know some of the otherbloggers that i "talk" with are into music. so come on overand "talk" with us.

Monday, August 21, 2006

just got this in an e-mail. it touched me and so i thought i'd post it here. thanks jim!Beautifully stated

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

well, it's finally raining, butit held off until the car cruise was over!things went quite well, tho it was gawd awful muggy outsideand so, i spent most of my time inside of the club.an entire 8 ft. table loaded with toys PLUS a largecardboard box full AND over 100.00 to the animal shelter!i was so pleased and the peach cobbler and brownies andthe cake i made were all declared very, very goodand all were eaten and enjoyed before i left!my thanks to EVERYONE that made this a great day! s

4:21 a.m.there are few fruits as sensual asripe peaches. i am wide awake and since nowords would come, i decided to make a peach cobblerfor the cruise today. i blanched and peeled the fresh peaches i boughtfrom a farm close to my home. they are red and gold and with a smell that was tempting.

time for another guest poet.i was going to post this earlier. i was waitingfor her bio, but she is having major computer problemsand so, i am posting this now, while the heat is still with us.you will understand my reasons after you've read her poem.i'll post her bio later. she has been gracious enough to let me post her work here. thanks much sally. Salt of the earthThese men are like that, strong capablebiceps like footballs, crawling under carsover mountains, smelling of testosteroneand musk. Their brain in their hands aswell as their trousers. Hearts like lionswith growls worse than a bite. Watch themat work, shoulders bare to the sun, legsanchored to the earth. Not a word of a poemdrips from their mouths, only a smudgeof a fierce kiss from a night of wooing.With more action than false words of a sweet sugar daddy, men of grit nevermelt in the heat of a snatched summer kiss.They recreate and procreate, fill the earthwith their kind, lean on their shovel fromtime to time, smile and let the sweat oftheir labour fall to the ground.Sally James

a beautiful day, tho the grass is brown and i feel badfor the local farmers. went to a small car cruise down alongthe allegheny. it was beautiful, with the ducks and the seagulls(yes, we have pgh. river seagulls) swooping thru the bright skies. s

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

a few words about the west deer animal shelter:it's a small facility and run by donationsand volunteers. it's behind the municipal building. sad to say, but it's a rural areaand some unfeeling people take their older orno longer able to care for pets and just turn the poor sweeties loose in the woods. maybe theymistakenly think they can fend for themselves, but more likely, they just discard them, like worn out shoes!a few, are lost and barb tries hard to reunite them with their owners, but most, oh just imagine it, being thrown out into woods or along side of a road, the fear, the hunger, the loneliness!so, if you will take a peek at the website, maybe adopt one of these old darlings, or send a small donation, drop off some food or squeaky toys if you live around there, or call barb and ask what you can do. you won't regret it. s

oh, for those in the area.there will be a car cruise this saturdayat the owl's in russelton.the owls are hosting a toy drive by the west deer police.so, if you want, stop by, 1 to 5 and bring a new, unwrapped toyfor the police to collect and distribute this coming Christmas.it's a small ex- coal mining town, but they have BIG spirit.thanks. sand barb from the west deer animal shelter is supposed to be thereshe usually has a sweet stray or 2 with her. she and her helpers and gary bogan, the animal control person do an amazing job rescuing strayswith limited funds but dedicated volunteers. maybe you might find the perfectfour footed friend if you stop by or visit the west deer animal shelter.so many of these sweet dogs have been just abandoned in the township and surrounding area.

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

a poetry tale:little wanna be"and where do your ideas come from?the words for your little POEMS?"with the tone of voice only the overeducated can pull offsubtle, but not.he smiled down from his lofty heightwaiting for little wanna beto scurry away like a bug when a rock's been kicked over."where?"little wanna be looked upeyes wide with a smilethat wasn't.a smile that only the littlescan pull offand said"don't know." causelittle wanna be knew right thenthat he wasn'tand she was.

finally rained last night,my 2 little tomato plants are happy!saw a bit about t. ridge and the color codes and howhe was pushed into elevating them at times to benefit certain political types.SO, i'm adopting the code, "Omigod" insteadof those dumb colors. if it ever gets to code "Omigod!"THEN, i'll start to get crazed! ok???got the code Omigod from johnny mac http://macyapper.com/going to be a good day! s

got this in an e-mail early this morning. this is my infoanyone that wants to play along, just go for it! sherry

Welcome to the 2006 edition of... Getting to know your friends!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 4:45am2. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? been a few years, not sure4. What is your favorite TV show? countdown5. What did you have for breakfast? bran muffin6. What is your middle name? ann7. What is your favorite cuisine? Italian8. What foods do you dislike? calamari 9. Your favorite Potato chip ? Cracked black pepper or bar b que10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? john lee hooker11. What kind of car do you drive? 1997 cavalier z2412. Favorite sandwich? peanut butter and jelly13. What characteristics do you despise? users14. Favorite item of clothing? jeans and boots15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? a cabin in the woods16. What color is your bathroom? pastels, greens and blues and pinks/white17. Favorite brand of clothing? victoria's secret18. Where would you want to retire to? not sure i want to go anywhere19. Favorite time of day? dawn20. Where were you born? pittsburgh pa21. Favorite sport to watch? none , well, boxing, but i have no favorite boxer at the time!22. Who do you least expect to send this back? Jess23. Person you expect to send it back first? ????24. What laundry detergent do you use? i switch brands, sensitive skin25. Coke or Pepsi? diet pepsi26. Are you a morning person or night owl? insomniac, pick a time!27. What size shoe do you wear? 7 1/228. Do you have pets? Yes29. Any news you'd like to share with everyone? No30. What did you want to be when you were little? writer/archologist31. Favorite candy bar? Anything chocolate32. What is your best childhood memory? learning to make bread with my grandparents33. What are the different jobs you have had in your life?- baby sitter/ shampoo girl/hairdresser/proofreader/poet/guest editor/ temp list administrator for lit workshop. artisan concrete stone maker

34. Nicknames: sher35. Piercing? Ears36. Eye color? brown37. Ever been to Africa? No38. Ever been toilet papering? no39. Love someone so much it made you cry? Yes40. Been in a car accident? Yes41. Favorite restaurant? none42. Favorite ice cream? ben and jerry's phish food!43. Favorite flower? Roses white and blood red ones4. Disney or Warner Brothers? warner45. Favorite fast food restaurant? subway or even better-KFC!!!!47. How many times did you fail your drivers test? Once48. Before this one, from whom did you get your last email? not sure, been a lot this a.m.49. Which store would you choose to max out your credit cards? ethan allen or any pet breeder/animal shelter!-record store/book store, god, choices, CHOICES!50. What do you do most often when you are bored? clean house or channel surf51. Bedtime? god only knows!52. Who are you most curious about their responses to this questionnaire? everyone53. Last person you went to dinner with? john54. What are you listening to right now? radio55. What is your favorite color? black56. Lake, Ocean or River? river57. How many tattoos do you have? one58. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Chicken , humm, not gonna go THERE!59. How many people are you sending this Email to? not sure60. Who sent this to you and what is something you didn't know about him/her? donna, shoe size61. What materialistic thing would you ask for if you had one wish to make? Jewelry62. Time you finished this email? 9:47 A.M.

Return directions: Now, here's what you're supposed to Do... and please do not spoil the fun. Copy (NOT forward) this entire E-mail and paste it onto a new e-mail that you will send. Change all of The answers, so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the Person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little Known facts about those who know you. Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you

a beautiful monday morning tho the heat and humidity will be backfor 1 more day. it is supposed to rain tonight. that will be good.everything is so very dry. early spring here all it did was rain, nownothing for days and days. ah, pittsburgh weather! s

Sunday, August 13, 2006

as i wrote earlier, i'm going to repost my latest poemand then some comments and crits from my workgroupto show a bit of the process. i'm fudging a bit because thiswork was well received, so it makes me look good( hey, why not? )it's rare that i do so well the first time out! ha! s

pastels

my poems of youhave become water coloredtranslucent shades inblues and greensas if too many thoughtshave licked all the brightfrom the page.

among the c&c's that i got it was mentioned that the choice ofblues and greens was a good choice,"these colours give depth and possible implied meaning to the poem.""i would keep 'bright'. it's essential to the poem...the more one thinks ofsomething(or somebody)the more difficult it becomes to picture it(or them)"

he was spot on about that. those color choices were deliberately chosenand the poem means pretty much as he took it, tho, as another pointed outthere is a sensuality, a sexual feel to the work as wellanother comment that the phrase' licked all the bright' was novel and catchingand that the poem is sad and wistful. that to was on the mark.it's rare that my poems are taken as is by so many. usually i do strive to leavethem open to each reader's interpretations, but this i suppose, is universal, thosome did see the sensuality and some did not. i am glad of that because ido want each to personalize it.

one poet did, because he is also into art, realize that pastelscould be read as an art mediumbut that was because it is a thing he is familiar with. i had that thought as well butdecided that most readers wouldn't be pulled up short by that.

so, this is how the c&c works, minus the real crits that we can get,and those are useful and a big part of learning and the bettering of a poem.if any reader has comments or crits about this work, please,do comment here or mail meafterthebridge@hotmail.com i'd appreciate them, i do listen. thanks, sherry

Saturday, August 12, 2006

this is a new one. i submitted it for c&cto my group.it was well received and soi will post this now and then, i will postsome of the comments so you can see the process. i hope you like it. spastelsmy poems of you have become water coloredtranslucent shades inblues and greensas if too many thoughts have licked all the brightfrom the page.

sat. morn, bought a new mop yesterday and i'm listening to muddy waters andjohn lee hooker and a jump blues classicscd while i mop the floors! i have somepork tenderloin cooking in chunks on the stove, going to make some shredded pork bar-b-que for sandwiches tomorrow, bless those little piggys! s

oh happy day!i finally found ben and jerry'sVERMONTY PYTHON ice cream.it is just great, almost as good as theirPHISH FOOD. THAT is the most perfect ice cream flavor!another really good flavor is BRUSTER'Schocolate raspberry truffle!!!! s

i just cut and pasted this. so it isn't presented as it should bebut i wanted to share this and i haven't much time this morningmaybe others will develop a loveof neruda as i have. he is one of my favorites. he touches me. s

it's the words, the beautiful damn words!

I Crave Your Mouth, Your Voice, Your Hair

DON'T GO FAR OFF, NOT EVEN FOR A DAY Don't go far off, not even for a day, because -- because -- I don't know how to say it: a day is long and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep. Don't leave me, even for an hour, because then the little drops of anguish will all run together, the smoke that roams looking for a home will drift into me, choking my lost heart. Oh, may your silhouette never dissolve on the beach; may your eyelids never flutter into the empty distance. Don't leave me for a second, my dearest, because in that moment you'll have gone so far I'll wander mazily over all the earth, asking, Will you come back? Will you leave me here, dying?

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

another beautiful morning thoi can see the first tiny signs of fall.there's a slight change in the green of my woodsand my groundhogs are starting to really pack on theweight in preparations for the cold to come. little things here and therethat say fall, well and too, a sure sign, preseason football!!!! s

Monday, August 07, 2006

go on over to tunesmith's and anthony's blog andwatch the little video of the st. rocco parade in morningside.i used to live across the river from there. had friends and in-lawsthat used to live there and bloomfield. the video took me backin time it did! s

i want to publicly thank Dr. Jim Bennett, the headof the PK list and the PK site, for the faith he hasshown in me by asking me to be the list administratorin his 2 week absence while he travels and gives readingsboth in his native England and then here in new York.there shouldn't be much for me to do. this group is made upof very capable and admirable poets. i was honored to be asked.thanks Jim. sherry

a happy monday!this is supposed to be the last of the oppressive hot days!we shall see i guess.

spent most of the day yesterday outside, needless to sayi am a crispy critter this morning, tho the last few yearsi've been left with a tan instead of turning bright pink and thenwhite again. i try to slather on the sunblock but sometimes i forgetto reapply, like yesterday.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

go and read the post on 2 political junkies.the one about 9/11 and the new movie that'sout and the real life pittsburgh and family connection.it's a real life hero story and interesting as anything i'veread in quite awhile. the post is titled:

Saturday, August 05, 2006

sat. night, in the 70's and it feels abit chill on my skin because it has been sohot of late. today was glorious, tomorrow backinto the heat!stayed home tonight, it was nice, quiet, i can hear the crickets outside. the moonis almost full again. nights like these area blessing.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

it has been so damn hot!last night i actually went all the way intopudd'n's swimming pool. i usually only dangle my feet or legs in.can't swim and i don't float!but, i went into the shallow end, shorts and a sleeveless T.by the time i drove home, i was completely dry, too damn hoteven for a notoriously chilly person like me! storms tonight! s

To ancient peoples, the yearly harvest was a reflection of the human cycle of birth and death. The reaping of food crops was associated with the spiritual abundance that sustained the soul. Yet harvest times were also a portent of autumn's chill and winter's harsh frosts. The Celtic peoples of centuries past acknowledged the season's first harvest with the festival of Lughnasa, the feast of the first fruits. Celebrated on August 1, it marked the midpoint between Beltane in May and Samhain in November, and symbolized a turning point in the lifecycle of Mother Earth. It was both a joyous celebration of plenty and a solemn wake for the decline of the potency of the sun god Lugh, from which the festival takes its name.What we know of Lughnasa, known also as Lammas, or the celebration of loaves, has survived in the rituals that are still practiced to this day. It is associated with grain, fruit, flowers, water, and soil, and celebrated atop summits as well as in the depths of holy wells. Traditionally, people assembled on hilltops to pick berries and engage in mock battles-the profusion of the gathered fruits and the results of the mock battles were believed to predict the outcome of the yearly harvest. Many visited ancient wells whose healing abilities were thought to be most potent on Lughnasa. Grand fairs and feasts were held, during which a portion of the newly picked grains were baked into man-shaped loaves commemorating the coming demise of Lugh. The descendants of those who first celebrated the summer harvest keep the traditions of Lughnasa alive in the fairs and sporting events that take place on August 1 throughout Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales.Lughnasa is primarily a festival of transition and thus presents a wonderful opportunity to consider how our lives have changed in the recent past. If you choose to celebrate the harvest by baking bread, adding ingredients you have reaped from your own garden will reinforce your connection to the earth. Consume your bread with loved ones while openly sharing stories of the new beginnings you are currently celebrating and the endings you are mourning. As you honor the cyclical nature of existence, reflect upon the fact that just as there is joy to be found in the sowing and reaping, each of life's phases is worthy of celebration too.

About Me

Sherry -ECLECTIC POETRY,LIBERAL POLITICS and other things, from an eclectic little woman. published in,hip poetry 2012, the individualist newsletter, online at, the amateur poetry journal, alchemy lit. mag, the writer's hood and caught in the net. a member of the international PK poetry kit, included in the anthology project, dec. 2004 and in national poetry day projects, four volts. uk. pk#10 and the picolata review.national poetry dayu.k. 08. former list administrator for the PK list.featured poet june'07#20.member pgh women's blogging society. contributing writer-CITIZEN JOURNALIST EXCHANGE worldwidehippies.com